Former President Donald Trump’s sentencing date in his criminal case has been delayed for a second time by a New York judge, allowing Trump to wait until after the election to learn his fate. Originally scheduled for September 18, Trump’s sentencing has now been pushed back to November 26 at the request of his attorneys. They argued that a delay was necessary to resolve ongoing legal challenges to his conviction in his “hush money” case.
Justice Juan Merchan issued the order to delay sentencing in order to avoid any appearance of political influence on the proceeding. He emphasized the court’s commitment to fairness, impartiality, and apolitical decision-making. The postponement was intended to dispel any suggestion that the court’s actions were designed to benefit or disadvantage any political party or candidate.
Trump was convicted in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a scheme to conceal reimbursements to a lawyer who paid hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Despite Trump’s denial of the encounter and plea of not guilty, a unanimous jury found him guilty. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg expressed readiness for sentencing on the new date set by the court.
Merchan has discretion in determining Trump’s sentence, which could range from incarceration to alternatives such as probation. Given Trump’s status as a first-time offender and precedents in similar cases, many legal observers anticipate that he will avoid jail time. The delay in sentencing follows a previous postponement from July 11, as Trump sought to set aside his conviction based on a Supreme Court ruling regarding presidential immunity. A decision on that effort is expected on September 16.
Trump’s attorneys, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, argued that postponing the sentencing until after the election would address concerns about the integrity of the proceedings. They also cited ongoing legal challenges as a reason for the delay. Prosecutors from Bragg’s office refrained from taking a position on further postponing the sentencing, deferring to the court’s decision.
Throughout the case, Trump has made multiple attempts to delay proceedings, including efforts to transfer the case to federal jurisdiction, which were rejected by a federal judge. The judge ruled that the “hush money” scheme was a personal matter beyond the scope of Trump’s official acts as president. In a separate civil case, Trump recently appealed a 2023 judgment in which a jury concluded he likely sexually abused and defamed writer E. Jean Carroll. Trump has denied all allegations in these cases, as well as in three other criminal cases, including charges related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election and taking confidential documents from the White House.
As Trump awaits his sentencing, the legal and political implications of his case continue to unfold. The delay in sentencing reflects the complex legal landscape surrounding the former president’s legal troubles. With the November 26 date now set for Trump’s sentencing, the outcome of the case remains uncertain, as he faces the possibility of a range of consequences for his actions. As the legal process moves forward, the public and political observers will continue to watch closely for developments in this high-profile case.
